FIFA will ask each country to name a stadium in honor of the great footballer Pelé, says Gianni Infantino | world news

FIFA plans to ask every country in the world to name a stadium in honor of late soccer legend Pele, its president Gianni Infantino has said.

The former Santos FC star, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, died on December 29 at the age of 82 after a battle with colon cancer since September 2021.

Infantino, who has been in Sao Paulo, Brazil for Peletold local reporters: “We are going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with Pele’s name.”

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Pelé’s funeral wake at the Vila Belmiro stadium

Rio de Janeiro scrapped plans to name the famous Maracana Stadium after Pelé after the state governor vetoed it in April 2021.

The football legend’s coffin was placed inside the Vila Belmiro stadium in his hometown of Santos on Monday, the club’s home where he scored some of the finest goals of his career.

Mr Infantino released a statement on the day of Pelé’s death which read: “For all of you who love the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pelé.”

He described Pelé, real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento, as an “exemplary sportsman” and added: “Pelé had a magnetic presence and when you were with him the rest of the world stopped.

“His life goes beyond football. He changed perceptions for the better in Brazil, South America and around the world. His legacy is impossible to sum up in words.”

Thousands of fans lined up to pay their last respects to Pelé.
Image:
Thousands of fans lined up to pay their last respects to Pelé

Read more:
Pelé embodied the idea of ​​football as the beautiful game
In pictures: The greatest footballer of all time

He also told reporters on Monday: “I am here with a lot of emotion, sadness, but also with a smile because he has given us so many smiles. As FIFA, we will pay tribute to the ‘King’ and ask the whole world to observe a minute of silence.”

Fans line up during Pelé's wake at the Vila Belmiro stadium.
Image:
Fans line up during Pelé’s wake at the Vila Belmiro stadium

Meanwhile, mourners began paying their respects to Pelé in a solemn procession past his coffin in Vila Belmiro, which was decorated with Brazilian flags and the number 10 jerseys that Pelé made popular when he played for Santos and Brazil.

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Pelé died on December 29.

Bouquets of flowers filled the stands after being left by mourners and sent by star clubs and players – including Neymar and Ronaldo – around the world.

The speakers also played a song named Eu Sou Pele (I Am Pele) which was recorded by the football star himself.

His funeral was at 10:00 a.m. local time, and the burial will take place on Tuesday.

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